Jon Jones teaching lessons on 'TUF'

Jan. 2, 2013

Union-Endicott High School graduate and Ithaca resident Jon Jones is the reigning UFC light-heavyweight champion and is one of the coaches on the upcoming reality TV show 'The Ultimate Fighter.' / USA TODAY Sports

Written by

John Morgan

mmajunkie.com

At 25 years old, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones still considers himself a student of mixed martial arts, but that does not mean he is uncomfortable as a teacher, too.

Jones said his stint as coach on “The Ultimate Fighter 17,” which debuts Jan. 22 on FX, did not force him to step outside of his comfort zone.

“I embrace the role,” said Jones, a Union-Endicott High School graduate who currently lives in Ithaca. “I definitely have become a leader in my own team at Jackson’s MMA. It’s something that has been slowly coming upon me, and I feel it. So you embrace it. You embrace the idea of being the light to people and really trying to impact someone’s life in a positive way.”

Jones coaches opposite Chael Sonnen on the upcoming 17th season of TUF, and the two coaches are expected to bring some much-needed attention to a series that struggled to excite in the recently-aired season. In addition to their starring roles, both fighters are expected to take a group of 28 middleweights under their wings.

“I’m definitely excited to show America that age is just a number, and wisdom outweighs age any day,” Jones said. “I guess the biggest thing that I did was demand respect through legitimacy between everything I said to the guys, and what I expected out of the guys to the vibe I gave off to these guys. I was definitely there to be those guys’ mentor, friend and supporter.

“Obviously it’s about those guys and not me, but I want to be a role model, too, despite the age difference. I want to lead by example and show these guys what has made me me and give them a piece of that.”

The 28 cast members have yet to be revealed and Jones is not free to talk about the proceedings until after they have aired. However, after Sonnen made it clear he could out-coach his younger opponent, Jones insists things are not that simple.

“I need to show America that I’m a champion,” Jones said. “I’m a champion coach. I’m a guy who is not going to be stingy with his success. I’m going to try and motivate others with his success and share his success and ultimately bring up the whole sport of mixed martial arts, whether it’s an individual athlete or an ideal or anything. My job is to pay it forward.

(Page 2 of 2)

“I look at this way, and it’s very simple: Somebody put me on to this world of mixed martial arts, and I owe a great deal to that person. The only way I can truly ever say thank you in my eyes is to put someone else on it. So when I’m in the locker room, I look at all of my guys as, ‘Which one of you guys is going to be the next guy? Which one of you guys can I bless by giving you my best?’ That’s the way I feel about the whole situation. I want to put someone else up. I want to change someone else’s life. I want to give back to the sport and be a contributor to one of the next great fighters.”

Jones and Sonnen will fight in April following the conclusion of the show’s run on FX. A victory in the fight would tie “Bones” with Tito Ortiz for the most consecutive defenses of the light-heavyweight belt in UFC history, and he has looked dominant in each of those appearances.

Public opinion on him seems to sway from time to time, but TUF 17 could provide an opportunity for the masses to learn more about Jones, who admits entering 2013 with high hopes.

“I just really want it all,” Jones said. “I want to be the best coach in ‘TUF.’ I want to completely conquer and leave my mark on this sport. So when people ask me some of my goals, I can go on and on. I just really want to accomplish everything.”